Learning disability or learning disorder is an information-processing problem that prevents one person from acquiring a particular skill. A variety of learning problems such as difficulties in seeing, hearing, and understanding can be considered as learning disabilities or learning disorders. As a result of these learning difficulties, the child may face problems in reading, writing, listening, speaking, and arithmetic. Even though the child actively participates in learning, a problem in any of the above-mentioned learning areas may indicate a learning disorder in your child [1][2]. Each of these learning disorders may significantly affect the child’s academic performance that appear as a gap between expected skills based on age and intelligence [3]. Through this blog, one can understand and distinguish various types of learning disabilities and the possible reasons behind the limitations that hinder your child’s learning.

The types of learning disabilities

Learning disorder in reading: The person with a learning disability in reading may have difficulty in fluent reading and pronunciation, lack of understanding and recalling their reading, difficulty with phonemic awareness, making weak inferences on their reading, and difficulty in spelling words. This type of information-processing problems in reading is also called dyslexia [4][5][6].

Learning disorder in writing: Learning disorder in writing shows symptoms such as slow handwriting, hard to read handwriting, difficulty in expressing thoughts into writing, poorly organized or hard to understand the phrasing of sentences and paragraphs, and endless mistakes while dealing with multiple spelling, grammatical, and punctuation errors. The learning disability in writing is also known as dysgraphia. This learning difficulty also causes a significant impact on academic achievements and tasks that require the composition of written text [7][8].

Disorders of speaking and listening: Even though some children are good at reading and writing, they face difficulties in speaking and listening. These difficulties often co-occur with learning disabilities due to difficulty with memory, social skills, organizational skills, and time management [9][10].

Learning disorder in arithmetic: Learning disorders in arithmetic have symptoms such as difficulties in memorizing basic calculations, using mathematics symbols, understanding and organizing the numbers and words to each other to solve mathematics problems, and difficulties in learning and memorizing math concepts and facts. Arithmetic learning disability is also called dyscalculia [11][12][13]. 

Nonverbal learning disability: In this category, a child may have specific strengths in basic language skills (early speech, large vocabulary, early reading, and spelling) and strong rote memorization skills in early childhood. Nonverbal learning disabilities often manifest in motor clumsiness, poor visual-spatial and visual-motor skills, problematic social relationships, difficulty with mathematics, and poor organizational skills. A child with a learning disorder in nonverbal skills may also have trouble with interpreting facial expressions, nonverbal cues in social interactions, using inappropriate language in social situations, poor physical coordination, and difficulty in attention, planning, and organizing [14][15][16].

In addition to the learning disorders in reading, speaking, writing, or mathematics, children may show many other signs through which one can suspect learning disorders in your child. A child with a learning disability will also show difficulty in understanding and following instructions, trouble in remembering earlier events, lack of coordination in walking, sports activities, difficulty in understanding the concept of time, difficulty in holding materials such as pencil, pen, etc., easily loses their own things, forgets or resists to do homework and excessive aggression at school during academic activities [17].

The causes of learning disability

In order to properly treat disabilities in a child, one should also know the reasons behind the symptoms of learning disabilities. A child shows consistent problems in a particular learning area with his/her homework or schoolwork may indicate a sign of learning disorder. Some of the causes of learning impairments are as follows [18][19].

Family history and genetics: Children who have learning disabilities often have parents with the same disorder and are often connected through genetics. A family history of learning disorder will increase the risk of the child developing the same type of disorder. In addition, spontaneous mutations (result from abnormalities in the natural biological process) can also cause developmental disorders with learning and communication difficulties in learning ability [20].

Risks during pregnancy and birth: The learning disability in a child may result from anomalies in the developing brain, poor growth in the uterus, fetal exposure to alcohol or drugs, low birth weight, premature birth, malnutrition, and mother’s illness. In addition, the late birth, which has unusual longer labor have trouble in receiving oxygen or injury during birth, may develop disabilities in learning [21].

Physical and psychological trauma: The physical trauma such as head injuries or nervous system infections also plays an important role in developing disorders in children. Abuse in early childhood or any psychological trauma may affect brain development and hence increases the risk of learning disorders [22].

Environmental risks: The risks such as exposure to high-level toxins such as heavy metals (e.g., lead) and pesticides increase the risk of learning disorders [23].

Recommendations

The child with a learning disability may also experience depression, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), performance anxiety, low self-esteem, chronic fatigue, and loss of motivation. The most important aspects of improving the situation are the in-time identification of the learning disability in your child. In order to provide adequate support and treatment, it is necessary to find the cause of disability. This will help to understand the need for services or treatments necessary for your child. Together with the help of the therapeutical support or any additional support, you can improve your child’s skills and develop him/her to use their strengths to improve in learning.

References

[1] Francis J Pirozzolo et al, Neuropsychological and Cognitive Processes in Reading, Academic Press Inc., 1981.

[2] Janet Collins et al., Understanding Learning: Influences and Outcomes, SAGE publications, 2001.

[3] Christopher Gillberg et al., The Lancet, 362, 2003, 811-821.

[4] Robin L Peterson et al., The Lancet, 379, 2012, 1997-2007.

[5] Crystle N Alonzo et al., Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing, 63, 2020, 151-162.

[6] Margaret J Snowling et al., Psychological Bulletin, 142, 2016, 498-545.

[7] Steven Z Rapcsak et al., Cortex, 45, 2009, 575-591.

[8] Nicolson R I et al., Cortex, 47, 2011, 117-127.

[9] L. Fisch, Journal of International Audiology, 4, 1965, 61-64.

[10] Fulya Yalcinkaya et al., International Jounal of Pediatric Otorhinolaryngology, 73, 2009, 1137-1142.

[11] David C Geary et al., Child Development, 78, 2007, 1343-1359.

[12] Ruth S Shalev et al., Journal of Learning Disabilities, 34, 2001, 59-65.

[13] Michele M M et al., Learning Disabilities Research & Practice, 20, 2005, 142-155.

[14] Bonnie L Brookshire et al., Journal of Clinical and Experimental Neuropsychology, 16, 1994, 289-302.

[15] Irene Cristina Mammarella et al., Journal of Learning Disabilities, 43, 2010, 455-468.

[16] Ramona Cardillo et al., Research in Developmental Disabilities, 64, 2017, 96-107.

[17] Venera Gasha et al., Journal of Experimental Child Psychology, 182, 2019, 187-195.

[18] https://www.ncld.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/2014-State-of-LD.pdf

[19] https://www.nichd.nih.gov/health/topics/learning/conditioninfo/causes

[20]https://www.understood.org/en/learning-thinking-differences/child-learning-disabilities/dyslexia/is-dyslexia-genetic 

[21]https://www.universalclass.com/articles/special-education/learning-disabilities-causes.html

[22] Fotis Papanastasiou, Acta Psychopatholgica, 4, 2018, 1-2.

[23] Barbara McElgunn, Paediatrics Child Health, 6, 2001, 725-727.